Dish TV plans low-cost set-top boxes
Dish TV, the direct-to-home (DTH) arm of the Essel Group, plans to launch low-cost set-top boxes (STBs) and cheaper monthly subscription schemes to tap the 40 million non-cable and satellite television homes in India.
In addition, the company plans to launch premium STBs for home theatre owners, apart from offering live TV on-the-go to car owners, in the next 2-3 month, according to Jawahar Goel, managing director, Dish TV.
Dish TV has close to 50 lakh subscribers and is looking to add at least 20-25 lakh subscribers in 2009-10. Goel added that the company expects to post profits in the quarter ending March 31, 2009 for the first time.
"We believe the time is ripe for market segmentation and we are working on cheaper set-top boxes for Doordarshan homes," Goel said. He believes that the company will manage to gain at least 10 lakh subscribers from this segment alone.
There are an estimated 120-122 million TV homes, out of which 80 million subscribers are cable and satellite viewers while the balance are terrestrial TV homes. Most of the subscribers opting for DTH are cable and satellite TV viewers.
In the past, Dish TV had a tie-up with auto maker Ford to offer live television by fitting an STB and dish antennae on its premium SUV. The company is working on a smaller antennae and STB that can be mounted on any kind of vehicle.
Salil Kapoor, chief operating officer, Dish TV, said, "This STB will target consumers who are traveling long distance or driving in the city but want to keep in touch with a sporting event or news. The smaller set top boxes will have limited channel capacity but will ensure smooth signal."
Source: Economic Times: Page 8 (section: Business & it): http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/ET/navigator.asp?Daily=ETD&login=default
Dish TV, the direct-to-home (DTH) arm of the Essel Group, plans to launch low-cost set-top boxes (STBs) and cheaper monthly subscription schemes to tap the 40 million non-cable and satellite television homes in India.
In addition, the company plans to launch premium STBs for home theatre owners, apart from offering live TV on-the-go to car owners, in the next 2-3 month, according to Jawahar Goel, managing director, Dish TV.
Dish TV has close to 50 lakh subscribers and is looking to add at least 20-25 lakh subscribers in 2009-10. Goel added that the company expects to post profits in the quarter ending March 31, 2009 for the first time.
"We believe the time is ripe for market segmentation and we are working on cheaper set-top boxes for Doordarshan homes," Goel said. He believes that the company will manage to gain at least 10 lakh subscribers from this segment alone.
There are an estimated 120-122 million TV homes, out of which 80 million subscribers are cable and satellite viewers while the balance are terrestrial TV homes. Most of the subscribers opting for DTH are cable and satellite TV viewers.
In the past, Dish TV had a tie-up with auto maker Ford to offer live television by fitting an STB and dish antennae on its premium SUV. The company is working on a smaller antennae and STB that can be mounted on any kind of vehicle.
Salil Kapoor, chief operating officer, Dish TV, said, "This STB will target consumers who are traveling long distance or driving in the city but want to keep in touch with a sporting event or news. The smaller set top boxes will have limited channel capacity but will ensure smooth signal."
Source: Economic Times: Page 8 (section: Business & it): http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/ET/navigator.asp?Daily=ETD&login=default
